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  • … states, it blooms on new growth, so do not prune until after flowering. The Chicago area is a little north of its native range, so some winter damage may occur, but will not affect flowering on new growth. The genus Calycanthus is separated into its own family, with its nearest relatives in the laurel family, which includes cinnamon and sassafras. The fruit is a hard oblong capsule shaped like a fig. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … tall in late spring and early summer. Each spike can carry between 20 and 80 flowers. It is one of the few North American native bulbs that are widely available for gardeners to plant … but not long-lasting, and foliage goes dormant during late summer. The genus name Camassia is derived from a Native American name for this group of plants, "quamash." All five species in … However, unless the bulbs are prepared according to a narrow set of guidelines, their flavor is at best tolerable. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … of rich green foliage. A member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), Eranthis hyemalis is one of the earliest spring-flowering bulbs to bloom—and also among the smallest. Because these … and cooler, humus-rich soil often bring the best show of flowers for the aconite. There is, however, a dark side to these show-stopping beauties: the entire plant is quite poisonous and may cause nausea, vomiting, colic attacks, and visual disturbances. Don't …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Rattlesnake master ( Eryngium yuccifolium ) is one of a group of plants in the carrot family known for clumps of pale green, prickly leaves, … except that they grow alternately along the stalk. Rattlesnake master needs full sun and is moderately drought tolerant, but the flowers will fade if the plant lacks adequate moisture. … from lore describing dried seedheads of the plant used as rattles by Native Americans. It is found growing in the meadows and prairies of the east and central United States. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … poor soils and varying moisture, but the flower buds may be tender on older cultivars. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear … forsythias into “green meatballs”, as their natural shapes are graceful enough. Vermont Sun is a cultivar of the Manchurian forsythia with flower buds hardy to 25 and possibly 30 below zero … wide. It has larger, broader leaves than the typical forsythia and blooms earlier. Fall color is a mix of orange and red. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … a novelty to Europeans and Americans, they were very common in Asia. The cultivar ‘Bronxensis’ is much smaller than the species, rarely growing over 18 inches tall and spreading to 36 inches. It has better flowering than ‘Arnold Dwarf’. It is best used in masses, to cover large areas or define a border. Named after William Forsyth, one … poor soils and varying moisture, but the flower buds may be tender on older cultivars. Pruning is best done immediately after flowering, giving new growth time to form flower buds. Never shear …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … <p><em>Furcraea</em> 'Medio picta'  is is less well known than aloes and yuccas, but you can see the family resemblance in the spiky … open land from the Caribbean well into South America. In fact, one of the common names for it is Brazilian aloe. </p> <p>After maturing for years, it flowers just once, but dramatically, on a …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • Is it possible for plant to produce two completely different types of flowers at different times? … but the late summer flowers are less fancy with a more simple shape. Vyvyan Pennell clematis is a reblooming vine. In late spring it bears large (6-8 inch) double blooms that have purple … cool shaded conditions around its roots but sunshine for the spreading part of the plant. It is perfect to plant within a sunny border and especially at the back of a border where it can …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … settings in moist humus-rich soils that are slightly alkaline in pH. Mature height and width is a little less than 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. This selection is a seed strain, so there will be slight variations on the flowers sold under this name. In … they usually begin to flower in April and frequently continue into early May. This specimen is one of a number of new exciting cultivars developed by Gisella Schmeimann of Cologne, Germany. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … has dark rose buds that open to pink flowers amidst red-tinged foliage. This cultivar is a selection from open pollinated Malus sargentii and has its characteristic low spreading … from modest amounts of pruning to eliminate water sprouts and improve airflow. This tree is a Chicagoland Grows® selection. Chicagoland Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant